Why it's tough being a GP2 rookie

Ahead of this weekend's non-championship GP2 event at Yas Marina, Glenn Freeman spoke to 2011's star rookie, Esteban Gutierrez, to find out what the newcomers will be up against in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix support races

This weekend's Yas Marina GP2 event is a freebie in many ways. Not in the financial sense, obviously, but for those with big decisions to make for next year it is a chance to get far more out of some November track time than would be the case if they were pounding round Barcelona or Jerez in testing mode.

For the first time in GP2's history, it is holding a race which will not count for points. GP2 Asia is no more, as we prepare for a more global calendar next year, but the category was always down to support this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. So the idea to hold a one-off non-points event was conceived, and it has attracted a mix of drivers.